Arterial oxygen saturation during Nd:YAG laser photoresection of endobronchial tumors under local anesthesia. Use of intermittent supplemental oxygen with pulse oximetry guidance

Although Nd:YAG laser photoresection of endobronchial lung tumor can result in significant arterial oxygen desaturation, oxygen supplementation during procedures is often limited due to fear of intrabronchial combustion. We gave intermittent pulse supplemental oxygen to ten patients during 26 laser procedures performed under local anesthesia using SaO2 measured by a pulse oximeter as a guide. In four procedures (15.4 percent), severe oxygen desaturation contraindicated performing or completing laser phototherapy. In the remaining 22 procedures (84.6 percent), laser photoresection was safely and successfully performed without incident. Thus, pulse oximetry is a valuable tool and intermittent oxygen supplementation with pulse oximeter guidance an effective technique for maintaining adequate oxygenation during laser photoresection.